The Mathematics Faculty has a team of highly qualified specialist teachers. Faculty leadership is shared amongst four staff; a Faculty Leader; one teacher responsible for each Key Stage and one teacher in charge of Statistics.
At Key Stage 3 and 4 all students have 6 or 7 hours of Mathematics per fortnight. Students are set according to their ability. In Key Stage 3, three or four blocks of equal ability are created with three to four sets in each block. Year 7 students are placed into sets after an initial period of about a month. In Key Stage 4, two bands are created with six sets in each band in Year 10.
In Year 7 and 8 we use ‘Mathematics in Practice’ textbooks (an online version is also available so students can access the textbook at home). Our Year 8 scheme of learning is currently linked to the Hodder Murray Formula 1 Series of textbooks, and the associated homework textbooks are also available. At Key Stage 4, students have access to the Edexcel GCSE Mathematics texts as well as the Collins Two Tier GCSE textbooks (used with Year 11). Students also have the associated homework text and electronic versions are available on the VLE, along with targeted practice books. At all levels, students have access to www.mymaths.co.uk which is used as a homework option, and also to www.samlearning.com which can be used as a revision aid.
From September 2012 all Year 10 students will be working towards the Edexcel Linear GCSE; sitting their examination in November or June of Year 11. The results at both key stages are above the national average; in 2011 71% of our students achieved a Grade C or above at GCSE, with 19.4% achieving an A or A*.
From September 2006 GCSE Statistics has been offered as an additional option in Year 10 and has produced excellent results.
Mathematics is also offered at Key Stage 5. Braintree Sixth Form has a Subject Group Leader responsible for Mathematics & ICT. Students can study Mathematics at AS/A2, Further Maths AS/A2 and International Baccalaureate courses at Higher, Standard and Maths Studies levels.
